Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse, a true Hockey Night in Canada

For those who are missing hockey here is a magnificent conversation with Richard Wagamese about his new book Indian Horse. Indian Horse is the story of Saul Indian Horse (Ojibway) who is raised in northern Ontario in a traditional family in the 1960s. Saul is eventually sent to St-Jerome Indian Residential School where he must suffer terrible horrors against his physical and spiritual self. Saul eventually finds some salvation through a new sport the 11 year old had never encountered before. Hockey was introduced by a new young priest at the Residential school, Father Gaston Leboutilier, as a means to train and interest the older boys. The story almost becomes one of the quintessential hockey success story of unbridled natural talent carved out of the Canadian northern rock. While Saul is initially not allowed to play the new sport he gains the admiration and confidence of Father Leboutilier. Saul and Leboutlier become very close as he is able to shield young Saul from many of the abuses of the IRS.
Saul due to his hockey talent then begins a new journey discovering the Canada of the 1960s and early 1970s, one based on ideals of equality and hard work, but not for any dirty Indian. He will eventually retrace his steps and discover the truth about his past.

I really loved this book and was able to read it in 4 hours. While the book is about Saul it is also about that Canadian spirit which is represented by hockey. Hockey is presented as this pure sport above the daily grid found within much of general life of both the rural and urban setting. We see through Wagamese’s magnificent writing that this is not the case and terrible injustice can be perpetrated in the name of the purity of a nation and a sport.

If you are a hockey fan and would like to read something different from the usual fare this book is for you. The true title of this book should have been Indain Horse: The True Hockey Night in Canada. http://www.amazon.ca/Indian-Horse-Richard-Wagamese/dp/1553654021 

Hocket Night in Canada Theme song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByKu8BwT5K4

To Learn More (Podcast):
http://archive.org/details/RichardWagameseAndHisNovelIndianHorse

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